The development of tourism

Butterfrauen Alpmuseum Riederalp AletschArena
The history of tourism in the Aletsch Arena

In the golden age of alpinism, the first alpine climbers came to the Aletsch Arena region. From the middle of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, travel and Alpine mountaineering were predominantly the preserve of high society. Brits in particular, such as banker Sir Ernest Cassel, loved the area around the Great Aletsch Glacier.

The constant growth in tourism from the 1930s on also promoted tourism development in the towns and villages: guest houses and hotels were built, and the infrastructure was constantly improved. Tourism soon became an important source of income. From the 60s at the latest, with the development of the area with ever more railways and lifts, the Aletsch Arena also became increasingly popular as a winter destination.

A high point in the development of tourism the region was the naming of the area around the Great Aletsch Glacier as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Alps in 2001. Since October 2013, the resorts of Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiesch-Eggishorn have together been marketing the tourist region, attractive year round, under the umbrella brand of Aletsch Arena.

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